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Fast Movin' Train
FAST MOVIN' TRAIN by PAM HOWES.Interior Designer Mandy Radcliffe runs a thriving business. Her husband is married to his job and their three daughters are adults with lives of their own. Anyone observing would assume they were a happy and successful middle-class family. Then a phone call and a declaration of love leads Mandy into a secret affair that turns her well ordered life upside down. ***This book won third place for BEST NOVEL in the 2013 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent E-book Awards.*** ***AN AUDIO VERSION OF THIS NOVEL IS NOW AVAILABLE.*** ***AWESOME INDIES ***:- Elizabeth Jasper I've read Pam Howe's trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed them all. This book puts a different emphasis on the music business, shifting from the more usual fame and fortune scenario and instead concentrating on the musician as an ordinary guy working in a fairly flaky industry. Yes, our hero is just as talented as the Raiders in previous stories, but instead of all the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll we are used to, the emphasis is on the tensions between home life and work, the precarious nature of working in such a business from the point of view of earning a living in the lower ranks, and the pressures of changing family relationships as the years go by. Totally captivating, absolutely un-put-down-able, and written in Ms Howe's usual easy, engaging style, this is yet another great read. Enjoy! ***INDIE E BOOK REVIEW*** : - Debbie Bennett I’ve read several other books by Pam Howes, so picked this up knowing exactly what I was getting. I wasn’t disappointed. There’s no Darcy in this book – no bronzed Adonis waiting in the wings to sweep our Mandy off her feet and make her realise what she’s been missing. Just Rod, the man she turned down as a teenager, who still hasn’t really grown up despite his own marriage and children, and spends as much of his life as he can on the road as a professional singer with a band. And yet middle-aged sex sizzles, as Mandy and Rob embark on an affair that can only bring heartache to everyone involved. This isn’t chick-lit – for a start the characters are older with established lives, but it’s also deeper than chick-lit and has the knack of making you re-evaluate your own life in the context of Mandy’s turmoil. Brief snatched moments of pleasure become days and then weekends; small lies become big lies as lives are falling apart around her. And when the emotional fallout crosses several generations, when friends and loved ones are battling illness, is it selfish to want what’s best for yourself?Thoroughly recommended. A romance with depth and passion, but one that also makes you think. PAM HOWES is also the author of the ROCK'N'ROLL ROMANCE series of novels. Three Steps To Heaven #1 'Til I kissed You #2 Always On My Mind #3 Not Fade Away #4 That'll Be The Day #5 (the prequel to Three Steps To Heaven) The Rock'n'Roll Romance Box Set. Three full length novels for the price of one. Cathy's Clown (The Fairground Romance Series #1) Coming Ruby Tuesday (The Sequel to Cathy's Clown.)
- GenresRomanceM F Romance
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2012
34 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 1, 2012
This story shows the fragility of marriage and where lack of effort and communication and manipulation can lead. So often in life you stay around for all the reasons that you consider correct. Once Mandy and Rod's affair is exposed, the underlying characters of the 'wronged' spouses shone through. And although Mandy and Rod do shatter the lives of their families, their lives were leading in that direction anyway.
I enjoyed this book and will be downloading other books by this author.
September 13, 2012
When an old family friend declares his love for Mandy, she is tempted into an affair with him. Neither Mandy nor Rod is happy in their marriages though both realize how much they’ll hurt their respective partners when the truth comes out.
Rod is a rock musician and the couple mostly conduct their affair when he’s away on tour. We are viewing the situation from Mandy and Rod’s perspective, their feelings and the difficulties they face, even with the support of their friends, but at times it’s difficult not to feel great sympathy for the people they’re betraying.
A face-paced story that keeps you reading in order to discover if all turns out well in the end.
Rod is a rock musician and the couple mostly conduct their affair when he’s away on tour. We are viewing the situation from Mandy and Rod’s perspective, their feelings and the difficulties they face, even with the support of their friends, but at times it’s difficult not to feel great sympathy for the people they’re betraying.
A face-paced story that keeps you reading in order to discover if all turns out well in the end.
March 22, 2014
Fast Movin' Train is a wart's n all love story detailing in spectacular detail an affair between Mandy and Rod who to make matters more juicy, happen to be unhappily married to other people. Billed as fiction, I have an inkling having scoured the internet for tidbits that the story is based at least in part upon real events.
The story is realistic and while the ending was predictable (I would have been seriously annoyed if it had gone any other way) I found it to be an enjoyable read. Set in the nineties and with throwbacks to the sixties, this is most definitely not for new adults...Definitely a book for a more mature palette, it came across to me as a story written by someone with inside knowledge of what it feels like to live through an affair, for women who have also been down a similar path. At very least I think that you need to have been around the block a few times yourself to fully appreciate the nuances and tragedy as the four major characters lives are slowly ripped apart.
Did I mention that Mandy and Rod and their respective spouses, also just happen to have been best friends for the past twenty five years????? Oh yes, this is not just some casual encounter with a random stranger! This takes the story to a whole new level and I was fascinated as the story unfolded by the dynamic between the four. I thought it was clever how the author made the cheated spouses close, because there were seriously times when I was wondering if they too were indulging in their own bit of extra marital nookie...Were they? Weren't they? You will have to read the book to find out!
My ONLY concern/gripe/niggle with this story was Mandy's relationship/attitude towards Rod's wife, Jenny. She was supposed to have been best friends with this woman for twenty five years for God's sake, however was slagging her off from the word go. While the book worked well as a stand alone, I think it might have added an extra layer, if there had been a prequel, showing Mandy's friendship with Jenny (and her confusion over her sexual tension with Rod) I LOVED Mandy and was rooting for her right the way through the story, however there were times when I wanted to slap her and say. "Hang on a minute bitch, think seriously about what you are doing to your best mate..."
For what it's worth, I had absolutely no empathy for her husband, who although he did show flashes of decency, came across overall as a dickhead and I felt that he deserved everything that he got!
Whatever the rights and wrongs. Whatever your stance on affairs and cheating, this is a gripping and incredibly realistic story which will keep you entertained right the way through to the end!
The story is realistic and while the ending was predictable (I would have been seriously annoyed if it had gone any other way) I found it to be an enjoyable read. Set in the nineties and with throwbacks to the sixties, this is most definitely not for new adults...Definitely a book for a more mature palette, it came across to me as a story written by someone with inside knowledge of what it feels like to live through an affair, for women who have also been down a similar path. At very least I think that you need to have been around the block a few times yourself to fully appreciate the nuances and tragedy as the four major characters lives are slowly ripped apart.
Did I mention that Mandy and Rod and their respective spouses, also just happen to have been best friends for the past twenty five years????? Oh yes, this is not just some casual encounter with a random stranger! This takes the story to a whole new level and I was fascinated as the story unfolded by the dynamic between the four. I thought it was clever how the author made the cheated spouses close, because there were seriously times when I was wondering if they too were indulging in their own bit of extra marital nookie...Were they? Weren't they? You will have to read the book to find out!
My ONLY concern/gripe/niggle with this story was Mandy's relationship/attitude towards Rod's wife, Jenny. She was supposed to have been best friends with this woman for twenty five years for God's sake, however was slagging her off from the word go. While the book worked well as a stand alone, I think it might have added an extra layer, if there had been a prequel, showing Mandy's friendship with Jenny (and her confusion over her sexual tension with Rod) I LOVED Mandy and was rooting for her right the way through the story, however there were times when I wanted to slap her and say. "Hang on a minute bitch, think seriously about what you are doing to your best mate..."
For what it's worth, I had absolutely no empathy for her husband, who although he did show flashes of decency, came across overall as a dickhead and I felt that he deserved everything that he got!
Whatever the rights and wrongs. Whatever your stance on affairs and cheating, this is a gripping and incredibly realistic story which will keep you entertained right the way through to the end!
July 16, 2014
What an awesome story! It literally took me for a ride, right along with Mandy and Rod! I wished I could hear their song on the radio. It would’ve been nice to read an Epilogue to find out a little about their future. Although I don’t condone cheating on a spouse, true love will find a way into your heart.
July 2, 2014
This was a brilliant book. It made me smile, laugh, and cry all at the right times! I recommend this read!!! A lovely romance to get stuck into!
July 10, 2014
enjoyed the whole story from start to finish had to put it down after chapter 16 was in tears my first read of pams looking forward to reading more of her books
April 29, 2019
Excellent!!
Enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sad that I have finished it, it's one of those books that you want to know the end ...and then wish it could go on!
Enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sad that I have finished it, it's one of those books that you want to know the end ...and then wish it could go on!
February 2, 2024
Yet again a really good read from Pam Howes, i found myself hoping that Rod and Mandy would end up together. Please keep the books coming.
March 15, 2024
Wow, can't believe I haven't read this before. I never thought I'd be all for someone having an affair but getting to see the two sides I was routing for the ones having the affair. Really good read.
December 26, 2012
What can I say? This book made me smile and cry a little. Every once in a while you come across a book that you have to put down because of an overload of emotions. This was one of those. Pam Howes shows us love against all odds and how, when two people really want to put in the effort, things can work. Even if it's in ways unexpected.
The way she sets scenes and conveys emotions is something many authors can only dream about. Her imagery and ways of drawing the reader in the heads and hearts or her characters makes this book worth reading not once or twice but more often. And this is coming from someone who hates to read true romantic books. In this one however the author held me captivated by the lives and love of her main characters as if it were me. And by doing so she had me living this romance and feeling everything the main character did.
My only complaint would be that the ending came a bit too abrupt. I would have liked to know how matters with Mike and Jennie were resolved and if Rod and Mandy truly lived happily ever after.
I know I'm repeating myself, but I absolutely fell in love with this book and will certainly look for the other titles this author has available.
The way she sets scenes and conveys emotions is something many authors can only dream about. Her imagery and ways of drawing the reader in the heads and hearts or her characters makes this book worth reading not once or twice but more often. And this is coming from someone who hates to read true romantic books. In this one however the author held me captivated by the lives and love of her main characters as if it were me. And by doing so she had me living this romance and feeling everything the main character did.
My only complaint would be that the ending came a bit too abrupt. I would have liked to know how matters with Mike and Jennie were resolved and if Rod and Mandy truly lived happily ever after.
I know I'm repeating myself, but I absolutely fell in love with this book and will certainly look for the other titles this author has available.
January 8, 2013
This is the first book that I've read by this Author. We are introduced to Rod and Mandy who are both in marriages that seem to have gone the distance and are going nowhere at all as far as they are concerned, the love and attention that they both crave doesn't appear to be there for them from their spouses. Rod is married to Jenny who's friends with Mandy and Rod has been Mandy's husband Mike's best friend for years.
It's only when Rod approaches Mandy and informs her that he's always been in love with her that they embark on an affair. The story is told from their point of view and we find out all that they grow through in the early stages of the affair and inevitably when they're found out and how it affects Jenny Mike and all the children involved.
The story is fast paced and is mostly dialogue driven, which aids the reader get to know the characters thoughts and feelings better.
I will read other books by this Author.
It's only when Rod approaches Mandy and informs her that he's always been in love with her that they embark on an affair. The story is told from their point of view and we find out all that they grow through in the early stages of the affair and inevitably when they're found out and how it affects Jenny Mike and all the children involved.
The story is fast paced and is mostly dialogue driven, which aids the reader get to know the characters thoughts and feelings better.
I will read other books by this Author.
April 12, 2012
I've read Pam Howe's trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed them all. This book puts a different emphasis on the music business, shifting from the more usual fame and fortune scenario and instead concentrating on the musician as an ordinary guy working in a fairly flaky industry.
Yes, our hero is just as talented as the Raiders in previous stories, but instead of all the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll we are used to, the emphasis is on the tensions between home life and work, the precarious nature of working in such a business from the point of view of earning a living in the lower ranks, and the pressures of changing family relationships as the years go by.
Totally captivating, absolutely un-put-down-able, and written in Ms Howe's usual easy, engaging style, this is yet another great read. Enjoy!
Yes, our hero is just as talented as the Raiders in previous stories, but instead of all the sex, drugs and rock'n'roll we are used to, the emphasis is on the tensions between home life and work, the precarious nature of working in such a business from the point of view of earning a living in the lower ranks, and the pressures of changing family relationships as the years go by.
Totally captivating, absolutely un-put-down-able, and written in Ms Howe's usual easy, engaging style, this is yet another great read. Enjoy!
May 6, 2012
This is the first book of Pam's I've read. Fast Movin' Train moves along at a quick pace.
After years of knowing each other and both stuck in loveless marriages, Rod and Mandy start an illicit affair. The question is will they leave their respective partners and make a commitment to each other.
A great read that lets the story unravel without using overly descriptive passages.
After years of knowing each other and both stuck in loveless marriages, Rod and Mandy start an illicit affair. The question is will they leave their respective partners and make a commitment to each other.
A great read that lets the story unravel without using overly descriptive passages.
March 15, 2012
Really enjoyable and long overdue review as I keep meaning to get to them, but thought I would make a little more effort :)
As always Pam delivers professionally and with style, faultless to the last page and looking forward to her next book.
As always Pam delivers professionally and with style, faultless to the last page and looking forward to her next book.
February 21, 2013
Enjoyable book. Kept my interest well.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews